The story of the Pequea Valley football season is almost like a football game. Things may not start out right; you may be struggling to get your game plan going. Something happens around halftime that causes the momentum to change; it gives you the confidence that you're going to come through with a victory.

Over the season's first five games, the Braves averaged about four points per game, including twice being blanked on the scoreboard.

The 0-5 team came away with a very impressive 16-0 victory and, despite losing three more contests, was competitive in nearly every game.

"It was like night and day," head coach Mike Choi said in response to how the team turned things around. "It wasn't just the two wins; it was how we played against Lancaster Catholic and Hamburg, when the games were a lot closer than the final score.

"It took a little while for our guys to gain that experience, to really understand what we were asking them to do," continued the coach. "To be using the techniques you're being coached, to be doing your assignments in a game - it takes experience. That's how you become successful offensively and defensively."

That second victory for the Pequea Valley program came on Friday night, October 28, as the Braves edged Kutztown 21-20 on the road, wrapping up the regular season with a 2-8 record and 2-5 in the Lancaster-Lebanon League.

The ending came with a bit of drama as the Braves drove down for a late touchdown, cutting the deficit to 20-19. Choi then decided to go for the win - a two-point conversion instead of a game-tying PAT kick.

"You can't be afraid to go for the win in that situation," he explained. "Our players came through with the win."

The Braves trailed 20-13 after Kutztown's Brenden Ackley (13 carries, 132 yards) scored his second touchdown of the game. On the ensuing kickoff, the Braves grabbed good field position on their own 34-yard line.

"After they scored, their kickoff to us went out of bounds," Choi said. "I elected to have them try again. It didn't quite work out the way I had hoped.

"Either way it was great starting field position," Choi added, referring to the 34-yard line with a return on the re-kick rather than the 35-yard line on a kick going out of bounds.

On that winning drive, the Braves had a counter play that went for 30 yards. On a fourth-and-six, a defensive pass interference kept the Braves' drive alive.

Orlando Stoltzfus, who led PV with 90 rushing yards, capped the drive with a five-yard carry into the endzone. Senior quarterback Peyton Temple hit junior Dontae Petersheim for the two-point conversion and the win.

It wasn't the only late scoring drive the Braves had. Trailing 13-0 late in the first half, they managed to make a single score contest by engineering a scoring drive prior to intermission.

"They were up 13-0 and we scored with 17 seconds left in the half," Choi said. "It was important for us to get that touchdown. It changed the momentum of the game. It made us believe we could win this game at halftime. We received the ball in the second half and scored."

The halftime break was sandwiched between two touchdown passes by Temple - both to Jesse Hoopes.

"Coming into the season, Jesse Hoopes hadn't caught a touchdown pass in his career," Choi said. "Coming into our 10th game, he still hadn't caught one. But against Kutztown, he caught his first touchdown."

The aforementioned score right before halftime as well as a five-yard scoring toss in the third quarter, tied the score at 13-13.

Second to Stoltzfus' 90 yards on the ground was Darrell Beiler grinding out 81 yards on nine carries and Petersheim with 39 yards on 10 carries. Petersheim also caught a 22-yard pass.

Petersheim is one of the juniors expected to be back in 2023.

"We lost 13 seniors," said Choi. "Our seniors have laid the groundwork for our program to gain respect in our league. Many of them played major roles for us this year.

"But the good news about having a relatively small roster was that nearly everyone had key roles on the team," added the coach. "So, the kids coming back already know what works on offense and defense."

CROSS COUNTRY

All three of the Pequea Valley runners in the District Three Class 2A girls cross country championship race qualified for states. In the race at Big Spring on Saturday, October 29, freshman Aubrey Ressler was phenomenal with a fifth-place finish in a time of 19:40.7 while junior Caleigh Vincent (20:12.3) placed ninth and sophomore Abby Beiler (20:58.3) claimed 20th place.

"Aubrey did as she has done all season," Pequea coach Keith Andrew said, "and that was to get out fast with the front group of runners. At the mile, she was in the front pack of seven runners.

"Abby ran the best race of her young career," continued the coach. "She was within 10 seconds of Caleigh at the mile and refused to surrender to the muscle fatigue through the rest of the race.

"She finished the race with a kick, passing one runner to take 20th," Andrew added. "This was the last position to receive an award and she ended up as the final girls' runner to qualify for states."

Seniors Hugh Johnson and Cam Beiler represented Pequea Valley in the boys' District Three 2A championship race. They both finished in the top third.

"Both boys crossed the mile with their best time of the season for the first mile," Andrew said. "On a challenging course, that speaks volumes."

Johnson claimed 48th place overall in a time of 18:26, which was a personal record. It was also the fastest time by a senior over the past three seasons.

Beiler crossed the finish line at 18:37, earning 53rd place.

"It was one whole second off his personal best," Andrew pointed out.